Version No. 004
Meat Industry Regulations 2005
S.R. No. 49/2005
Version incorporating amendments as at
3 April 2013
TABLE OF PROVISIONS
Regulation
Page
PART 1—PRELIMINARY
1
2
3
4
5
6
1
Objectives
Authorising provision
Commencement
Revocation
Definitions
Prescribed consumable animals
PART 2—CLOSURE OF PREMISES
7
1
1
1
1
1
2
3
Inspector to order temporary stop of processing or sale of meat
3
PART 3—SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR GENERAL MEAT
PROCESSING FACILITIES
4
8
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Application
Ban on slaughter and sale of horse and donkey meat for human
consumption
Branding and re-inspection of meat
All carcasses and meat to carry brands
Description of brands
Whole carcasses—application of brands
Less than whole carcass—application of brands
Specification of brands
Information to be supplied on wrappers, cartons or containers
PART 4—SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR PET FOOD
PROCESSING FACILITIES
18
Labelling of pet food for sale
4
4
4
5
5
6
7
7
7
9
9
i
Regulation
Page
PART 5—MEAT TRANSPORT VEHICLES
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
Application and exemptions
Application for the issue or renewal of a licence
Inspection of meat transport vehicle
Issuing and renewal of licences
Display of label
Change in ownership or management of meat transport vehicle
Responsibilities of owner of licensed meat transport vehicle
Suspension or revocation of licence
Removal of label
PART 6—TRANSITIONALS AND EXPIRY
28
29
Meat transport vehicle licences
Expiry of some branding requirements
__________________
SCHEDULE—Regulations Revoked
11
11
11
12
12
13
13
13
14
15
16
16
16
17
═══════════════
ENDNOTES
18
1. General Information
18
2. Table of Amendments
19
3. Explanatory Details
20
ii
Version No. 004
Meat Industry Regulations 2005
S.R. No. 49/2005
Version incorporating amendments as at
3 April 2013
PART 1—PRELIMINARY
1 Objectives
The objectives of these Regulations are to—
(a) provide standards, procedures and other
requirements for the production of meat for
human consumption and for pet food; and
(b) provide for the licensing of meat transport
vehicles.
2 Authorising provision
These Regulations are made under section 78 of
the Meat Industry Act 1993.
3 Commencement
These Regulations come into operation on 16 June
2005.
4 Revocation
The Regulations listed in Schedule 1 are revoked.
5 Definitions
In these Regulations—
the Act means the Meat Industry Act 1993;
AS 4465:2001 means AS 4465:2001 known as the
Australian Standard for Construction of
Premises and Hygienic Production of Poultry
Meat for Human Consumption (Second
Edition) approved by the Standing
Committee on Agriculture and Resource
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S.R. No. 49/2005
Part 1—Preliminary
r. 6
Management of the Agriculture and
Resource Management Council of Australia
and New Zealand as made from time to time;
AS 4696:2002 means AS 4696:2002 known as the
Australian Standard for the Hygienic
Production and Transportation of Meat and
Meat Products for Human Consumption,
approved by the Standing Committee on
Agriculture and Resource Management of
the Agriculture and Resource Management
Council of Australia and New Zealand as
made from time to time;
chief executive officer means the chief executive
officer of the Authority;
goat means a caprine which has one or more
permanent incisor teeth erupted through the
gum;
meat product means a product containing meat
and which is intended for human
consumption;
pet food means meat or a product containing meat
intended for food for a pet.
6 Prescribed consumable animals
For the purposes of paragraph (d) of the definition
of consumable animal in section 3(1) of the Act,
the following animals are prescribed to be
consumable animals—
(a) emu;
(b) camel;
(c) buffalo;
(d) rabbit, if not living in a wild state.
__________________
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Part 2—Closure of Premises
r. 7
PART 2—CLOSURE OF PREMISES
7 Inspector to order temporary stop of processing or
sale of meat
If an inspector considers that there is a potential
danger to public health owing to uncleanliness or
to the presence of infection on or about premises
where the processing or sale of meat is carried on,
he or she may require the operator of the meat
processing facility to do all or any of the
following—
(a) take action to correct the method of
processing meat on the premises or any part
of the premises;
(b) stop the processing or sale of meat on the
premises or any part of the premises;
(c) clean, disinfect or decontaminate the
premises.
__________________
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Part 3—Specific Requirements for General Meat Processing Facilities
r. 8
PART 3—SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR GENERAL
MEAT PROCESSING FACILITIES
8 Application
This Part does not apply to the processing of meat
that is not intended for human consumption.
Reg. 9
expired by
force of
S.R. No.
49/2005
reg. 29.
*
*
*
*
*
10 Ban on slaughter and sale of horse and donkey meat
for human consumption
(1) For the purposes of section 35(7) of the Act, the
following consumable animals are prescribed—
(a) horse;
(b) donkey.
(2) A person must not sell for human consumption
meat from a horse or a donkey.
Penalty: 10 penalty units.
11 Branding and re-inspection of meat
(1) Each brand applied to a carcass, meat or offal
intended for human consumption must be applied
so that it is fully legible and remains so during the
times it would be normally necessary for the
origin of the carcass, meat or offal to be
ascertained.
(2) If a brand applied in accordance with this
regulation is illegible, an inspector may require it
to be removed and a further brand applied.
(3) Despite any previous branding, an inspector may
re-inspect meat or a carcass at any time, and if the
inspector considers it unfit for human
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r. 12
consumption, he or she must ensure that it is
branded as unfit for human consumption.
12 All carcasses and meat to carry brands
The licensee or operator of a general meat
processing facility must ensure that each carcass
and all meat (whether fresh, chilled, frozen, dried
or preserved), when inspected and passed as fit for
human consumption, is branded in a clear and
legible manner by or under the direction of an
inspector in accordance with this Part.
Penalty: 10 penalty units.
13 Description of brands
(1) The licensee or operator of a general meat
processing facility must ensure that a brand
applied to a goat or deer under regulation 12
consists of the letters VIC followed by the licence
number of the facility and then in the case of—
(a) a carcass or meat of a goat, by the letters GT;
(b) a carcass or meat of a deer, by the letters
VEN.
(2) The brands referred to in subregulation (1) must
consist of a circle within which the letters and
licence number of the facility are centered within
the circle.
Example:
VIC
B7
VEN
*
*
*
5
*
*
Reg. 13(3)–(6)
expired by
force of
S.R. No.
49/2005
reg. 29.
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Part 3—Specific Requirements for General Meat Processing Facilities
r. 14
(7) For all carcasses and meat other than those
specified in subregulations (1), (3) and (4), the
brand must consist of a circle within which the
letters and the licence number of the facility are
centered within the circle.
Example:
VIC
B7
14 Whole carcasses—application of brands
(1) The licensee or operator of a general meat
processing facility must ensure that in the case of
whole carcasses, the brand is applied—
(a) in the case of beef and veal, to the tongue
and on each side of the carcass on the
buttock, the loin, the outside of the ribs and
the shoulder;
(b) in the case of a calf, on each side of the
carcass on the shoulder and the leg;
(c) in the case of mutton, on each side of the
carcass on the shoulder and the leg;
(d) in the case of pork, on each side of the
carcass on the cheek, the hand, the loin and
the leg.
Reg. 14(2)
expired by
force of
S.R. No.
49/2005
reg. 29.
*
*
*
*
*
(3) In the case of other carcasses not specified in
subregulation (1) or (2) the brand must be applied
to the places the inspector specifies for easy
identification.
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r. 15
15 Less than whole carcass—application of brands
The licensee or operator of a general meat
processing facility must ensure that in the case of
meat comprising less than a whole carcass the
brand is applied to the places the inspector
specifies for easy identification.
16 Specification of brands
The licensee or operator of a general meat
processing facility must ensure that—
(a) the outline of the brands provided in
regulation 13 is not less than 3·2 centimetres
in breadth; and
(b) the lettering in each brand is of uniform size
and consists of block capitals not less than
0·6 centimetres in height; and
(c) in the case of a strip brand, the letters are of
block capitals of uniform size not less than
0·6 centimetres in height, and the parallel
lines are approximately 1·5 millimetres
in thickness and are not less than
3·2 centimetres nor more than
6·0 centimetres apart.
17 Information to be supplied on wrappers, cartons or
containers
(1) The licensee of a general meat processing facility
where carcasses, part-carcasses, meat or meat
products are packed for sale must ensure that the
following information is written in English on the
outer wrapper, carton or container—
(a) the name and the business address of the
packer of the meat, not being a post office,
cable or telegraphic or code address;
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r. 17
(b) the licence number prefixed by a letter or
letters assigned to the facility by the
Authority;
(c) the consumable animal species from which
the meat or meat products in the package are
derived;
(d) the trade name or description of the meat or
meat products contained in the package;
(e) the date of packaging.
Penalty: 10 penalty units.
(2) The licensee of a general meat processing facility
must ensure that information required by
subregulation (1) to be placed on the wrapper,
carton or container of packaged meat is written
legibly in letters not less than 20 millimetres in
height.
Penalty: 10 penalty units.
__________________
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Part 4—Specific Requirements for Pet Food Processing Facilities
r. 18
PART 4—SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR PET FOOD
PROCESSING FACILITIES
18 Labelling of pet food for sale
(1) The licensee of a pet food processing facility must
ensure that pet food packed for sale has attached
to the package a label that—
(a) is written in English; and
(b) has printing in capital letters in colours
which contrast distinctly with the
background of the label; and
(c) meets the requirements of subregulations (2)
and (3) or alternative requirements approved
by the Authority under subregulation (4).
Penalty: 10 penalty units.
(2) A label must have—
(a) the words "PET FOOD ONLY" written in
letters with a face depth of not less than
5 millimetres, unless the pet food is packed
in a can; and
(b) in a prominent position and clearly visible,
an illustration of the whole of the body or the
head of a dog or cat.
(3) For pet food packed in a can, the words "PET
FOOD ONLY" may be—
(a) embossed on one end of the can with a face
depth of not less than 5 millimetres; or
(b) marked on the can in a manner approved by
the Authority.
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(4) On application by a licensee, the Authority may
approve alternative requirements for labelling or
embossing to those specified in subregulations (2)
and (3) if those requirements clearly identify that
the package contains pet food.
__________________
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Part 5—Meat Transport Vehicles
r. 19
PART 5—MEAT TRANSPORT VEHICLES
19 Application and exemptions
For the purposes of section 42A of the Act, a meat
transport vehicle is required to be licensed unless
the vehicle—
(a) is used only for the conveyance of carcasses
or meat from retail butcher shops to retail
customers; or
(b) is a refrigerated taut liner vehicle used for
the carriage of meat in cartons to cold stores
or wharves; or
(c) is used to load a shipping container at an
export registered establishment; or
(d) is used to transport meat in cartons to
isolated and remote areas where transport by
licensed meat transport vehicles is not
practical because of the remoteness of the
area; or
(e) is from and currently licensed in another
State or Territory for the carriage of meat for
human consumption that is involved in the
interstate transport of meat.
Note
This Part does not apply to a vehicle used for the
transport of pet meat or pet food.
20 Application for the issue or renewal of a licence
(1) The owner of a vehicle used or intended to be
used as a meat transport vehicle must apply to the
Authority for the licensing of the vehicle or
renewal of a licence.
(2) The application must be accompanied by a fee
fixed by the Authority.
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Part 5—Meat Transport Vehicles
r. 21
21 Inspection of meat transport vehicle
The Authority may specify a place for an
applicant to take the meat transport vehicle for
inspection.
22 Issuing and renewal of licences
(1) If the fee under regulation 20(2) has been paid and
the Authority considers that a meat transport
vehicle is fit to be licensed, the Authority—
(a) in the case of a new licence—
(i) may issue a licence for the meat
transport vehicle to the owner of the
meat transport vehicle; and
(ii) may assign a number prefixed by the
letters "MTV" to the meat transport
vehicle; and
(iii) may issue a label containing the details
of the licence; and
(iv) must ensure details of the new licence
are entered in a register; and
(b) in the case of a renewal of a licence—
(i) may issue a renewed licence for the
meat transport vehicle to the owner of
the meat transport vehicle; and
(ii) may issue a label containing the details
of the licence.
(2) The Authority must not issue a new licence or a
renewed licence unless the meat transport
vehicle—
(a) if used for the conveyance of meat other than
poultry, complies with Parts 1 and 8 and
Schedule 1 of AS 4696:2002; or
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Part 5—Meat Transport Vehicles
r. 23
(b) if used for the conveyance of poultry meat,
complies with Parts 1 and 8 (excluding
clause 24.3) and Schedule 1 of
AS 4696:2002 and clause 15.127 of
AS 4465:2001.
(3) If regulation 20(2) has not been complied with or
the Authority considers that a meat transport
vehicle is not fit to be licensed, the Authority must
refuse the application.
(4) If the Authority refuses to issue or renew a
licence, it must notify the owner in writing of the
reasons why the meat transport vehicle is not to be
licensed.
23 Display of label
On receipt of a label from the Authority, the
owner of a licensed meat transport vehicle must
ensure that the label is affixed to the meat
transport vehicle.
Penalty: 2 penalty units.
24 Change in ownership or management of meat
transport vehicle
During the currency of the licence if there is a
change in the ownership of the licensed meat
transport vehicle or the owner's address changes,
the person to whom the meat transport vehicle
licence was issued must notify the Authority in
writing of details of the change within 7 days.
Penalty: 2 penalty units.
25 Responsibilities of owner of licensed meat transport
vehicle
(1) The owner of a licensed meat transport vehicle
used for the conveyance of meat other than
poultry must comply with Parts 1 and 8 and
Schedule 1 of AS 4696:2002.
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r. 26
(2) The owner of a licensed meat transport vehicle
used for the conveyance of poultry meat must
comply with Parts 1 and 8 (excluding clause 24.3)
and Schedule 1 of AS 4696:2002 and
clause 15.127 of AS 4465:2001.
(3) The owner of a licensed meat transport vehicle
who wishes to have the licence renewed must on
or before 15 May in each year, apply to the
Authority for a renewal of the licence and pay the
appropriate fee fixed by the Authority for that
renewal.
26 Suspension or revocation of licence
(1) The chief executive officer may suspend or revoke
a licence in respect of a meat transport vehicle by
notice in writing to the owner if the chief
executive officer is satisfied that—
(a) the meat transport vehicle used for the
conveyance of meat other than poultry no
longer complies with Parts 1 and 8 and
Schedule 1 of AS 4696:2002; or
(b) the meat transport vehicle used for the
conveyance of poultry meat no longer
complies with Parts 1 and 8 (excluding
clause 24.3) and Schedule 1 of
AS 4696:2002 and clause 15.127 of
AS 4465:2001; or
(c) the meat transport vehicle is not in good
order or condition; or
(d) a term or condition of the licence has been
breached.
(2) The owner of a meat transport vehicle in respect
of which a licence is revoked must surrender the
licence to the chief executive officer within 7 days
after being notified of the revocation of the
licence.
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Part 5—Meat Transport Vehicles
r. 27
27 Removal of label
(1) The owner of a meat transport vehicle in respect
of which a licence is revoked must remove the
label issued under regulation 22 from the meat
transport vehicle immediately upon being notified
of the revocation of the licence.
(2) A person must not permit—
(a) letters, numbers or labels appearing to be a
licence number or label to remain on a meat
transport vehicle that is not for the time
being licensed under these Regulations; or
(b) a label issued under regulation 22 that is not
applicable to the current licensing period to
remain on a meat transport vehicle.
Penalty: 2 penalty units.
__________________
15
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Part 6—Transitionals and Expiry
r. 28
PART 6—TRANSITIONALS AND EXPIRY
28 Meat transport vehicle licences
A licence for a meat transport vehicle issued
under the Meat Industry Regulations 19941 before
16 June 2005 is deemed to be a meat transport
vehicle licence issued under these Regulations
until the date of expiry of that licence.
29 Expiry of some branding requirements
Regulations 9, 13(3), (4), (5) and (6) and 14(2)
expire on 16 June 2010.
__________________
16
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Sch.
SCHEDULE
Regulation 4
REGULATIONS REVOKED
S.R. No.
Title
84/1994
Meat Industry Regulations 1994
186/1994
Meat Industry (Amendment) Regulations 1994
136/1998
Meat Industry (Amendment) Regulations 1998
72/2002
Meat Industry (Amendment) Regulations 2002
18/2003
Meat Industry (Amendment) Regulations 2003
═══════════════
17
Meat Industry Regulations 2005
S.R. No. 49/2005
Endnotes
ENDNOTES
1. General Information
The Meat Industry Regulations 2005, S.R. No. 49/2005 were made on 7 June
2005 by the Governor in Council under section 78 of the Meat Industry Act
1993, No. 40/1993 and came into operation on 16 June 2005: regulation 3.
The Meat Industry Regulations 2005 will sunset 10 years after the day of
making on 7 June 2015 (see section 5 of the Subordinate Legislation Act
1994).
18
Meat Industry Regulations 2005
S.R. No. 49/2005
Endnotes
2. Table of Amendments
There are no amendments made to the Meat Industry Regulations 2005 by
statutory rules, subordinate instruments and Acts.
Where a provision has expired, the provision has been omitted and an
explanatory sidenote included.
19
Meat Industry Regulations 2005
S.R. No. 49/2005
Endnotes
3. Explanatory Details
1
Reg. 28: S.R. No. 84/1994 as amended by S.R. Nos 186/1994, 136/1998,
72/2002 and 18/2003.
——
Table of Applied, Adopted or Incorporated Matter
Note that the following table of applied, adopted or incorporated matter is
included in accordance with the requirements of regulation 5 of the Subordinate
Legislation Regulations 2004.
Statutory Rule
Provision
Title of applied, adopted or
incorporated document
Matter in
applied, adopted
or incorporated
document
Regulations 22(2)(a),
25(1) and 26(1)(a)
AS 4696:2002 known as the
Australian Standard for the
Hygienic Production and
Transportation of Meat and
Meat Products for Human
Consumption, approved by
the Standing Committee on
Agriculture and Resource
Management of the
Agriculture and Resource
Management Council of
Australia and New Zealand
as made from time to time.
Parts 1 and 8 and
Schedule 1
Regulations 22(2)(b),
25(2) and 26(1)(b)
AS 4696:2002 known as the
Australian Standard for the
Hygienic Production and
Transportation of Meat and
Meat Products for Human
Consumption, approved by
the Standing Committee on
Agriculture and Resource
Management of the
Agriculture and Resource
Management Council of
Australia and New Zealand
as made from time to time.
Parts 1 and 8
(excluding
clause 24.3) and
Schedule 1
20
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S.R. No. 49/2005
Statutory Rule
Provision
Title of applied, adopted or
incorporated document
Matter in
applied, adopted
or incorporated
document
Regulations 22(2)(b),
25(2) and 26(1)(b)
AS 4465:2001 known as the
Australian Standard for
Construction of Premises
and Hygienic Production of
Poultry Meat for Human
Consumption (Second
Edition) approved by the
Standing Committee on
Agriculture and Resource
Management of the
Agriculture and Resource
Management Council of
Australia and New Zealand
as made from time to time.
Clause 15.127
21